Plane banner: Stephen Lynch is Canadiens fan

Both sides agree it’s a penalty, but a billionaire opponent of the Keystone Pipeline is unlikely to spend anytime in the box after accusing Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) of rooting for the Canadiens on Wednesday.

Clean energy advocate Tom Steyer paid for a plane to fly over Boston, accusing Lynch — who trails Rep. Ed Markey in a Democratic Senate primary in recent polling — of rooting for both the Pipeline and the archrivals of the hometown Boston Bruins, according to Boston Magazine.

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“STEVE LYNCH SAYS: ‘GO HABS! AND GO CANADIAN DIRTY OIL!,’” read the banner attached to the plane, referring to the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens by their nickname. The Bruins and Canadiens are scheduled to play Wednesday.

Steyer’s tactics violate a pledge made by both Markey and Lynch to keep outside money out of the race. Both candidates have condemned the environmentalist’s involvement.

The congressman’s campaign fired back by noting Lynch was the original sponsor of state legislation to create a Bruins license plate. Proceeds from the plate go to support youth hockey programs in the Bay State. They also noted Lynch has repeatedly voted to end oil subsidies while in Congress.

Lynch, a moderate, supports construction of the Keystone Pipeline, which would bring oil from the Alberta tar sands to refineries in Illinois and on the Gulf Coast. President Barack Obama’s administration has held up construction of the pipeline due to environmental concerns. Most Republicans support the pipeline, arguing it would create jobs. Markey, a longtime favorite of green groups, opposes its construction.